Kangaroos go down to Great Britain

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Over the line ... Keith Senior scores in the final minutes.Photo: Reuters

Great Britain produced an inspiring defensive effort to end a
three year drought against Australia and book a spot in the Tri
Nations rugby league final with a nailbiting 24-12 win over the
Kangaroos at Wigan's JJB Stadium on Saturday night.

Britain took an 18-6 lead into halftime and spent most of the
second half stoutly defending their own line as Australia threw
everything at them.

Centre Keith Senior made sure of a heroic victory with a 60
metre intercept try with three minutes remaining to ensure the
Lions would meet Australia in the Tri Nations final at Elland Road
in two weeks.

Australia needed a good start to the second half tonight and the
got it through debutant prop Mark O'Meley.

The Bulldogs front rower charged onto a flat pass from Brett
Kimmorley in the 45th minute and cruised over under the posts,
Fitzgibbon converting to make the gap six points.

Kimmorley and hooker Craig Wing were picking holes in the
Australian defence - but Britain somehow hung on .

Captain Andy Farrell had the chance to give his side a
seven-point edge in the 72nd minute but his field goal was
wide.

But Senior made sure of the win when he swooped on an errant
Scott Hill pass.

The opening half was played at a cracking pace and it was
Australia who made the early break through when Luke Rooney
continued his remarkable try-scoring run at Test level.

The Kangaroos looked to have gone the wrong direction on the
last tackle but Kimmorley reverse kicked and Rooney raced through
unchallenged to score his sixth try in only his fourth Test.

But Great Britain got the sell-out crowd back in the match with
two tries in three minutes midway through the half.

Hooker Terry Newton scored the first in the 23rd minute,
cleaning up a Sculthorpe grubber after some fine work from Senior
and Sean Long.

Farrell converted and the score was locked at 6-6.

Three minutes later - in the 26th minute - winger Stuart Reardon
produced some deft work to score in the corner, Farrell converting
from the sideline to put his side ahead by six points.

Wellens and Newton, outstanding in the opening half, ensured
Great Britain maintained its lead with try-saving tackles on
Minichiello and Wing.
And with three minutes remaining in the half they went further in
front when prop Stuart Fielden finished off a brilliant 60 metre
try.

The Lions ran the ball on the last tackle with Long, centre
Martin Gleeson, five-eighth Danny McGuire and Newton combining
before Fielden stumbled over the line.